Vehicle hub and axle



(No Model.)

W1 H. WRIGHT.-

VBHIGLE HUB AND AXLE.

1111.414880. Patented Nov. 12, 1889.

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Vuull. 1.11

VUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM II. WRIGHT, OF BUFFALO, NEV YORK.

VEHICLE HUB AND AXLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 414,830, dated November 12, 1889. Application led May 13, 1889. Serial No. 310,596. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. WRIGHT, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Axles, (Case A5) and I do hereby declare that the following description of my said invention, taken inj connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, forms a full, clear, and exact specification, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention has general reference to improvements in vehicle-axles; and it consists, essentially, in the novel and peculiar` 4combination of parts and details of construction, as hereinafter first fully set forth and described, and then pointed out in the claims. In the drawings already mentioned, which serve to illustrate my said invention more fully, Figure 1 is aside elevation of a fragment of the rear portion of a vehicle provided with my improved axle. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the axle-collar. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation in line :cx of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a plan of a portion of the axle and the collar. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation of a portion of the hub-flange and the axle.

Like parts are designated by corresponding letters of reference in all the figures.

The object of this invention is the production of an efficient tubular axle for heavy vehicles and an improved fastening for the axles, as Will now be fully set forth.

A in the drawings represents a tubular axle of cylindrical form, it having a central bore B through its entire length, which serves as an oil chamber or reservoir, there being a filling-opening P, Figs. l and 3, suitably plugged where the lubricant is to be introduced. This axle has near its end a screwthreaded portionA, Figs. l and 4, and from there to the extreme end a reduced portion A forming the shank proper, which shank receives the usual hub or skein in the following manner:

E is the axle-skein and hub combined, it being formed in one piece with a flange F, which flange, in conjunction with a similar flange F sliding upon the skein E, serves as means to retain the spokes T in proper position, carriage-bolts f, passed through these parts, retaining them in place. The inner end of the skein is shouldered and externally screw-threaded at e to receive a sleeve-nut- D, which nut engages a collar O upon the screwthreaded portion A of said axle. This collar is provided with a laterally-projecting flange, has an octagonal lsection C for application of a suitable wrench to screw said sleeve tightly upon said axle, and a cylindrical portion c where the web d of said sleeve-nut D engages the sleeve. Leather washers hb are interposed between the collar C and the web CZ on one side and the shouldered portion of the skein E onthe other side to reduce friction and produce a tight fit for the parts.

The outer end of the skein E is externally screw-threaded at G to receive a long cap H, while the inner end of said skein is internally screw-threadedand tted with a plug S, hav- .ing an angular section a for the application of a suitable wrench, said cap I-I having an octagonal portion 7i. for a like purpose.

The cap H serves, among other purposes, as a means to give superior finish to the hubs, said cap being capable of receiving a high polish, and when plated with nickel, silver, or gold forms a Very attractive and stylish-looking appendage to the wheel. It also acts as a protector to prevent the lubricant from collecting on the outer end of the hubs, where there would be a liability-of soiling the clothes, dac., of persons that might come in contact with the same.

The outer interior end of the axle is filled with an absorbent substance or material, which will cause the retention of the lubricant within the core of the axle, except what may pass through the pores of such substance-spon ge, cotton waste, candle-wickin g, dac., being suitable for this purpose.

The axle A being of cylindrical contour externally, it is difficult to fasten the same to the wooden axle-tree N so as to prevent it from turning. To guard against this difliculty, I provide the same with a collar I, as shown in detail in Fig. 2, said collar havinga body J, the lower end of which has laterallyprojecting lugs K, provided with apertures 7c for the passage of the threaded portion Z of the clip L, and on its sides a projecting flange I', said collar being produced in either steel or iron casting and provided with an opening for the passage of the axle-shank A. This collar is shrunk on to the said axle at a point Where the sleeve C may butt against it, so that said collar also forms a shoulder for said sleeve. The top portion of the bodyJ of the collar I is three-sided, it being a part of an octagon, and it is embedded into the Wooden axle-tree N, the clip L passing over said axletree and the collar and securely fastening the parts together.

The axle A is hollow throughout, the bore acting as a reservoir for the oil; but since this construction has a tendency to weaken the axle I shrink into the saine, about at the place Where the clip L is applied, a steel plug Q, having a groove R, serving as a passage from the center of the core to the outer ends thereof. This groove R is downwardly placed for obvious reasons.

The outer end of the skein E is internally screw-threaded to receive a plug S, having an angular Wrench-section a, by which and a suit-able wrench it may be removed and replaced When desired.

The outer end of the axle-bore B is open, so as to allow the lubricant to pass from the same to the outer `side of the axle-shank 'and thereby provide -for proper lubrication of the parts.

It- Will be readily observed that by 'constructiug the axle and its appurtenants in the manner described I have produced a veryefiicient and desirable article of manufacture,

capable of being produced at a reasonable expense, and applicable to all kinds of vehicles without change or modification.

Having thus fully described myinvention, Iv

claim as new and desire to secure to-me by Letters Patent of the United Statesl. In vehicle-axles, a tubular body having centrally an oil-chamber and filling-passage for the same, a plug Q, inserted in said chamber and provided with a longitudinal passage R in its lowest side, a chamber B in front of said plug, closed on its cnd by an absorbent material, and an axle-skein closed on its end, whereby the lubricant passes from said central chamber through said passage into the front chamber and through the absorbent material to the axle-skein, as and for the purpose stated.

2. The combination, with the tubular axle, of 'the shrirnk-'on collar I, having the laterally-projecting lugs K and encircling Hange I', t-he skein E, having the iange l? and screwthreaded portion e, the collar C, abutting against said collar I, the swivel-n ut l), and the flan-ge F, with the bolts f, the Whole being con structed and combined in the manner as and for the purpose set forth.

in testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have -hereto set my hand in the `presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IV. l-l. VVRIGII'I. Attest:

MICHAEL J. STARK, WM. 0. STARK. 

